Temporary Tips for Temporary Clients

For clients who aren’t regular nail-wearers, temporary tips can be just the thing to add dazzle to a special event like a wedding or a prom. They’re also good for clients who aren’t coming back to the salon, says nail tech Heather Rhoades of A Class Act in N. Wilkesboro, N.C. “For these one-timers, I’ll retail a take-home kit to remove the nails.” The kit consists of a 1-oz. acetone-based remover, cuticle oil, and a buffer. Rhoades charges $10 for the kit, in addition to the $30 she charges for the temporary tips.

Her technique is simple, requiring just 15-20 minutes. She dehydrates the nails, buffs the nail surface, and applies the tips with two layers of brush-on resin — one across the stress area and one on the entire nail. “The set can last up to three weeks depending on who is wearing them,” she says.